AIFF removes
Scott O’ Donell

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi: In a surprise move, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has removed Australian coach Scott O’Donell as the assistant coach of the Indian football team for the Asian Games in Incheon, beginning September 19.

Former India player Savio Medeira has now been named the new assistant to Wim Koevermans.

“We have received a request from the AIFF to change the name of the assistant coach,” Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sources confirmed. Scot is currently the director of AIFF academies and coaches education. All academies in Kalyani, Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore, directly come under the 46-year-old Australian, whose name was recommended by Fifa.

Sources claimed that Scot was hastily replaced after the world body felt that the director of academies should look after the training programme of the youngsters, instead of spending time with the national team. “Fifa gives special grant to the AIFF for having an academy boss and it doesn’t like him to be asked to concentrate on other assignments,” a senior official said.

Meanwhile, the Asian Games camp will be held in Bangalore from July 1 to 20. After the camp, the team is supposed to go for preparatory trips to Spain and Korea, though a final call is yet to be taken.

Thirty players have been called up and 20 would be selected for the Asian Games.